The Teacher

Teaching yoga is the most rewarding gift I’ve ever received. It allows me to make positive contributions to my community and to help students find peace and calm in this crazy world. I am traditionally non-traditional and I teach every class with the basic principles of Love, Compassion, Joy & Equanimity.I try to be the best teacher I can be and I bring a light and a levity to every class I teach. Employing an expression of devotion and tradition, I teach in a way that holistically inspires my students. I am committed to honoring all of my teachers who have led me to a life devoted to the practice and teaching yoga to others.

I stand in the light of my greatest potential and invite others into their own – that is where my teaching comes from.

The Teacher June 12th, 2014Martin

poses June 12th, 2014Martin

The Practice

Yoga is not just being on a mat for 60 or 90 minutes at a time. Yoga is calming the fluctuations of the mind and it is a lifelong journey to find yourself. The practice is about being present and mindful firstly with yourself then, secondly, with the world. Take it one breath at a time regardless of where you are or what you are doing.

I teach a Vinyasa style of yoga and my goal is to only teach the asana but to teach the whole practice. This means that I want my students to take the metaphor of the physical practice off their mat and find ways to incorporate what they learn in class and apply those principles to their daily lives.

I’ve been so blessed to study with Sri Dharma Mittra who, I feel, is the living embodiment of yoga. He has dedicated almost his whole entire life to the practice of yoga and it is such a beautiful experience to learn from him. I’ve learned from Sri Dharma, my guru, that anyone can do yoga no matter what their physical condition – there is yoga for every single one of us and it isn’t always a pose.

Mini-Workshop: Eka Pada Koundinyasana

Here’s a 2 minute mini workshop video that I did for Wanderlust at Squaw Valley 2014. It’s a few tips on how to do a fun arm balance.

The Practice February 4th, 2015Martin

I love the cyclical nature of the asana practice. Every time you finish, you’re right back at the beginning, ready for another journey, another adventure on your mat.

Martin Scott

Our Philosophy is June 12th, 2014Martin

Inspiration

I try to find inspiration in something each day. Sometimes I read or hear or see something that really resonates with me and it becomes a part of me. Here are a few things from the very long list.

“Yogas citta vritti nirodhah”

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras Chapter 1, v2.

Translated to English this quote means “Yoga is the calming of the fluctuations of the mind.” This sutra is the essence of yoga, meaning that if one practices yoga then the mind will calm which will bring balance. This is especially important for everyday life given the stresses that we encounter so often – just do a little yoga and it will all be ok. Yoga helps us chip away at all the stuff in our minds that gets the way so that our thinking will become clear and peace can be found.

The first two yamas: Ahimsa (Non Harming) and Satya (Truth) are the first two and most important “codes of conduct” in yoga. Ahimsa toward everything including ourselves and Satya in speech as well as action. These two yamas will bring us closer to the ultimate goal of yoga which is Samadhi (enlightenment).

I highly recommend any book translated, commented on or written by Edwin T. Bryant is a treasure. He is a professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University and is one of the most engaging people I have ever met. He makes everything so easy to understand and as soon as you read his work, the light bulbs start going off like crazy!

The Four Immeasurables: Love (Maitri), Compassion (Karuna), Joy (Mudita), Equanimity (Upeksa) – four principles to apply to every action and every thought in every day.

Inspiration June 11th, 2014Martin

Come to the edge, he said. They said, We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them and they flew.

Guillaume Apollinaire

The birds have vanished into the sky…And the last cloud drains away…We sit together, the mountain and me… Until only the mountain remains.

Li Po

He looked at his own Soul with a Telescope. What seemed all irregular, he saw and showed to be beautiful constellations: and he added to the consciousness worlds within worlds.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Guillaume Apollinaire June 12th, 2014Martin

Where I Am

Union Yoga

You can find me at my studio, Union Yoga. It’s a sweet, peaceful place – a little oasis of happiness carved out of the San Francisco landscape. You can find UY on the corner of Union & Hyde Streets in the Russian Hill neighborhood and the entrance to the studio is at the back of the building. I created Union Yoga to be an oasis where any yogi, regardless of experience level, could come do yoga, feel safe and supported and receive a well-taught yoga class. unionyogasf.com

Workshops, Retreats & Special Events

Maha Sadhana Workshop with Martin Scott

Maha Sadhana means The Great Practice. This workshop includes Mantra chanting to awaken the subtle consciousness, a Vinyasa Flow sequence to open and strengthen the physical body, dynamic Pranayama breathing exercises to stimulate the chakras and the energetic body, meditation to develop the mental body and Yoga Nidra Yogic Sleep to rejuvenate the entire being.

This workshop is designed to incorporate all aspects of the yoga practice, not just the postures, and is accessible to any student of any level.

Martin Scott is a San Francisco based yoga instructor and studio owner at Union Yoga. Martin teaches vinyasa yoga that focuses on health and wellness for the body and the mind. His gentle and attentive teaching style is accessible to students of all levels. His classes build strength and flexibility and Martin encourages students to always maintain a sense of humor and lightheartedness.

Martin has completed 800 hours of training with the yoga master Sri Dharma Mittra at his yoga center in New York City as well as the 200 hour Deva Teacher Training with Stephanie Snyder. Martin has is also a five year lululemon Legacy Ambassador.